By Sara Israelsen
I had just finished my third lap around campus and was heading up 9th East for the fourth and final round. More than slightly winded, I trudged up the slight incline, definitely feeling the burn in my legs and lungs. I was no longer running, but simply struggling to finish what I?d started.
I felt somewhat sheepish as I was passed by multiple joggers cruising by me at what seemed like top speed. I wanted to call after them, ?Hey, this is my fourth lap, I?ve been going for almost an hour!? I decided against it ? I had to save what little air I had left.
As runners passed me, I was sure all they saw was a tired mass of humanity, struggling to make it up a wimpy hill. They whizzed by, but I put my head down and kept going. I finally made it home, stretched and began the homework for the night. It was just a normal run, but the more I thought about it, the greater the connections I found to other areas of my life.
I was embarrassed to remember how often I have passed other joggers at the beginning of a run and thought, ?Wow, look how much faster I am ? I?m fantastic,? adopting the mentality I had just decried. In those runs, I may have looked good for the first two laps, but the flop to the finish line is always humbling, reminding me I am not infallible.
Extending the metaphor beyond running, I undergo personal interrogation. How often have I lauded myself at the expense of others, based on nothing more than superficial first impressions? How often do I see people struggling, either on campus or in the community and label them inaccurately, because I don?t understand.
Do I compare grades with other people then pat myself on the back for beating person A and B in the midterm? Do I exhibit major-based snottiness and complain about the homework load difference or lack thereof?
I don?t want someone to take a quick surface glance and label me with only that knowledge. Sheesh, I have enough bad hair days to lose all peer approval if that?s only what they?re looking at. So why would I do that to others? I?m sure the list of issues and circumstances each person deals with is far longer than I might think.
Because our lives contain so many lurking variables, it?s not fair to point fingers or scoff at slow joggers. That night struggling up 9th East, I wanted the benefit of the doubt from my peers, which means I need to go out of my way to pay that courtesy to others. Maybe they?re on their fourth lap as well.